The official blog for singer, writer, director and human rights advocate Aisha and her affiliated web sites.

Friday, June 24, 2016

Boxers Determining The Right Weight Class

Adrien Broner looked like he was
dreaming about a cheeseburger at the weigh-in after not
eating for days

Boxers choose the weight class they feel is
right for them for various reason. There are 17
standard weight classes. Among them are light flyweight, flyweight,
bantamweight, lightweight, light welterweight,
welterweight, middleweight, cruiserweight,
heavyweight, super heavyweight ect. Some feel
more comfortable fighting at the weight class
closest to their natural weight, while others
struggle by choosing a weight class well below
their natural size. Some even choose their
weight class based on their favorite boxer
growing up.

However, what happens when a boxer struggles
to maintain that weight (especially in the
lighter weight classes). What happens when it
becomes an issue for a boxer to make
weight/reach the catchweight for their fight.
Boxers are fined for not making weight, losing
tens of thousands of dollars, as being heavier
than the stipulated catchweight provides an
undue advantage over an opponent, which can turn
dangerous.

Some boxers like their food more than others,
indulging in pork chops, steaks, ribs, French
fries, hot dogs, cake and ice cream (*looks at
Adrien Broner*). Broner famously had a problem
making weight this year for his fight against
challenger, Ashley Theophane. It resulted in
Broner being stripped of the belt and being
fined $50,000 which he had to pay to Theophane.
Broner now states he has outgrown the
lightweight division and will move up to
welterweight - translation: he’s not giving up
the pork chops.

Broner and Theophane were not overweight
prior to training camp, but they don’t seem to
be fighting at their natural weight.
Translation: those two looked hungry at the
weigh-in like they were having fantasy type
visions of cheeseburgers (LOL). They looked
exhausted and below their natural weight for the
fight, due to intense training and trimming down
to make the catchweight. Theophane only had a
few pounds to lose. Broner had roughly 25-pounds
to lose after indulging in his favorite foods
between fights and missed it by a small margin
at the weigh-in. Hence the fine.

Some boxers really appear to be naturally
thin due to their metabolism (Roman
“Chocolatito” Gonzalez, Guillermo Rigondeaux).
However, others clearly make a disciplined
effort to lose weight for the catchweight, as
they don't maintain the stipulated weight for
their weight class between fights.
If Broner feels he can comfortably fight in a
new weight class, this should not pose a problem
for him and may as well, as he is clearly
unhappy trying to maintain his weight in the
lightweight division. To go for days without
eating, while running for hours days in a row,
mentally and physically draining one’s self for
each fight, will take its toll after a while.

Being a welterweight will not pose a risk to
Broner’s health (provided he doesn‘t develop
cholesterol problems from the pork chops and hot
dogs). Therefore, he may as well leave the
lightweight division. It can’t be worth the
distress of slimming down with a hungry look in
your eyes like a zombie. Looking like you’re
about to raid a donut shop and jump into a pile
of donuts face first.

Some boxing trainers insist, if you aren’t
use to fighting in a different weight class, it
can cause a problem. Therefore, boxers will have
to weight the risks (*looks at Amir Khan*). This
year, Amir Khan famously went up two weight
classes to fight Canelo Alvarez, who is like a
bull and strong as an ox. It worked for a little
bit, but the moment Canelo correctly cut off the
ring he knocked out Khan in a KO that is very
uncomfortable to watch.

Khan was laid out on the canvas, looking like
he was going. After a few minutes, medical staff
were able to revive him and take the boxer to
the hospital. As much as Khan had gained weight
and some muscle, successfully hitting the
catchweight, he was not use to fighting as a
middleweight or facing one. It was an intense
knockout. Thus far, the knockout of the year.
Khan was not used to being hit with that type of
force and could have paid for it with his
health. It was too much of a jump in weight
class.